View source for Fiat 125

{{More citations needed|date=April 2019}}{{Infobox automobile
| image = Fiat_125_Special_1971_%2818869446682%29.jpg
| caption = 1971 Fiat 125 Special
| name = Fiat 125
| manufacturer = [[Fiat]]
| production = 1967–1972
| assembly = Italy: [[Turin]]<br />Morocco: [[Casablanca]] ([[SOMACA]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://somaca.e-monsite.com/ |title=Somaca Casablanca |publisher=Somaca.e-monsite.com |access-date=2010-04-19 |archive-date=2015-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520020851/http://somaca.e-monsite.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><br />Argentina: [[Córdoba, Argentina|Córdoba]] (until 1982)<br />Chile: [[Rancagua]]<br />Indonesia: [[Jakarta]] (until 1986)
| predecessor = [[Fiat 1300/1500|Fiat 1500]]
| successor = [[Fiat 132]]
| class = [[Compact executive car|Large family car]] ([[D-segment|D]])
| platform = 
| body_style = 4-door [[Sedan (car)|Sedan]]<br />5-door [[Estate car]]
| engine = 1608 cc [[DOHC]]
| transmission = 4-speed [[manual transmission|manual]] <br />(125: ''1967–1973'')<br />5-speed [[manual transmission|manual]] <br />(125S: ''1968–1970'', 125 Special ''1970–1973'')<ref name=Autocar1969>{{cite magazine| title = Autotest: Fiat 125 Special|magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | pages =16–21 |date = 19 June 1969}}</ref><br />3-speed [[automatic transmission|automatic]] <br />(125S: ''1968–1970'', 125 Special ''1970–1973'')
| wheelbase = {{convert|2505|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{convert|4232|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|1625|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|1420|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|1055|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}}
| aka = 
| related = [[Fiat 1300/1500]]<br />[[Fiat 124]]<br />Zastava 125pz<br />[[Zhiguli (car brand)]]<br />[[Polski Fiat 125p]]<br />[[FSO Polonez]]
| designer = 
}}

The '''Fiat 125''' is a [[large family car]] manufactured and marketed by Italian company [[Fiat]] from 1967 to 1972. Derivatives were built under license outside Italy until the 1990s. As launched the car was unusual in blending saloon car passenger accommodation with sports car performance,<ref name=Autocar196705/> a combination which would be more widely adopted by the European volume auto-makers in the decade ahead.

==The body==
The chassis used was the same as that of the longer variant of the outgoing model, the [[Fiat 1300/1500]], and the floor pan was virtually unchanged from it.  The body was a slightly lengthened development of the [[Fiat 124]]: the two models had the same passenger compartment and doors, but the 125's rear seat was set slightly further back, reflecting the longer wheelbase, 85mm (3.346 inches) longer than that of the 124, inherited from the Fiat 1500.<ref name=Autocar196705>{{cite magazine| title = New! Fiat 125: 1,608 c.c. Twin-cam engine in four-door family saloon| series = 126|magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | volume =   nbr 3715| pages =  6–8 |date = 27 April 1967}}</ref>

==Engine and running gear==
The new car's engine was based on the one fitted in the Fiat 124 Sport:<ref name=Autocar196705/> a 1608 cc [[Overhead camshaft|DOHC]] unit with {{convert|90|PS|kW bhp|0|abbr=on}} driving the rear wheels. The 125 was equipped with a Weber 34 DCHE 20 or Solex 34 PIA carburettor.  The car was fitted with an alternator,<ref name=Autocar196705/> reflecting the twin headlights and the increasing number of energy intensive electrical components appearing on cars at this time.   Other noteworthy features included the electromagnetic cooling fan clutch.<ref name=Autocar196705/>

==Developments==
The 125 featured one of the world's first intermittent wipers and was praised when new for its handling and dynamics. British Autocar found the slight understeer tendencies were easily cured by adjusting the front camber.

In 1968 the 125S ("Special") was added to the range, with {{convert|100|PS|kW bhp|0|abbr=on}} (from a modified cylinder head, camshafts, inlet/outlet manifold and Weber/Solex carburettor) and, unusually at this time, a five-speed gearbox.<ref name=Autocar1971>{{cite magazine| title = Used Car Test: 1969 Fiat 125|magazine=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]] | pages =52–53 |date = 18 November 1971}}</ref> It also had halogen lights, servo-assisted twin circuit brakes and optional superlight magnesium wheels.
A variety of other improvements were made including improved cabin ventilation, trim and styling.

The Special received a facelift late 1970, using pretty much the same trim as the 125S, but the visual width of the car was enhanced by a wider grille (the indicators moved from the side to the bumper) and by replacing the square rear lights with larger, horizontal ones.<ref name="TMN">{{cite book |last = Mazzocchi Bordone| first = Maria Giovanna |title = Fiat, tutti i modelli del novecento| trans-title=Fiat, all the 20th century models| publisher = Editoriale Domus| series = Un secolo di auto italiana | volume = II| location = Rozzano (MI) | date = 2010}}</ref>{{rp|24}} The interior gained upgraded upholstery of the seats and a wood facia. A three-speed GM automatic transmission as well as air conditioning became available as an option.

==Variations==
[[File:Fiat 125S Vignale bodied.JPG|thumb|Front right view of the Samantha.]]
[[File:1967_Fiat_125_GTZ_in_parking_lot.jpg|thumb|The 1967 Fiat 125 GTZ, one-off made by [[Zagato]].]]
A variant, the ''125 T'', was made by the Fiat importers in [[New Zealand]], Torino Motors, for the annual 6 hour production car race, the Benson and Hedges 500.<ref name="Simmonds">{{cite web|last=Simmonds|first=Mal|title=1971 Fiat 125|url=http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~malsim/projects_8.htm|work=Dino Enterprises Ltd|access-date=5 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507043921/http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~malsim/projects_8.htm|archive-date=7 May 2014|url-status=dead}}{{unreliable source?|date=April 2020}}</ref>  The 125T has larger valves, two twin Weber DCOH or Dell'Orto 40DHLA [[carburettor]]s (depending on availability), modified camshafts and a higher compression ratio to produce around {{convert|125|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, lowered and stiffer suspension.<ref name="Simmonds" /> All featured Ward alloy wheels and were painted bright yellow.<ref name="Simmonds" /> Sources for production figures quote that between 84 and 89 were modified.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} Reasons for stopping production are  sometimes given that Fiat headquarters found out and stopped this venture.<ref name="Simmonds" /> However a more likely scenario is that selling the required 200 cars in a market that only sold 1,000 Fiats in total each year was a tall order.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

Other versions were built by [[Moretti Motor Company|Moretti]], who made the ''125GS 1.6'' with styling similar to the [[Fiat Dino|Fiat Dino Spider]]. [[Zagato]] made the ''125 GTZ''; Savio, a ''125 Coupé'' and ''125 Station Wagon''; [[Gruppo Bertone|Bertone]], a ''125 Executive'' to a [[Marcello Gandini]] design; and [[Vignale]] produced the ''Samantha'', a two-door coupé with pop-up headlights, designed by [[Virginio Vairo]]. Another ''125 Station Wagon'' was built by [[Officine Stampaggi Industriali|OSI]] to a [[Sergio Sartorelli]] design.

==Production==
[[File:Fiat 125 (10112762754).jpg|thumb|Fiat 125 in UK]]
Production by Fiat in [[Italy]] ceased in 1972 when the [[Fiat 132]] was introduced, a total of 603,877 cars having been built.<ref name="TMN"/>{{rp|24}}

==Foreign production==

===Poland===
[[File:Polski Fiat 125p.jpeg|200px|thumb|Polski Fiat 125p in UK (after 1983)]]
{{main|Polski Fiat 125p}}

A licence copy was also produced in [[Poland]] by the [[Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych]] (FSO) from 1967 until 1991, under the brand [[Polski Fiat]] as the ''[[Polski Fiat 125p]]'', and later as the FSO 1500, FSO 1300, or FSO 125p.

It was a somewhat simplified variation of the Fiat car, with outdated 1300 cc or 1500 cc engines and mechanicals from the [[Fiat 1300/1500]]. Polish cars differed in details from Italian ones, most visible were four round headlights instead of square ones, simpler bumpers and front grill, orange front turn signal lenses, different shape details in tail and front lamps design, simpler body sheet metal stampings, old Fiat 1300/1500 chassis and interior. This model was also available as an [[station wagon|estate]] (the ''Polski Fiat 125p Kombi'') and a [[Pickup truck|pickup]] developed in Poland after Italian Fiat 125 production ended in 1972.

===Yugoslavia/Serbia===
[[Zastava Automobiles|Zastava]] started producing the [[Polski Fiat 125p|Fiat 125p]] in 1969, in an effort to replace the [[Zastava 1500|Zastava 1300/1500]]. The body panels and chassis were imported from Poland, while the mechanical parts were reused from the already locally produced Zastava 1300. The name was changed to Zastava 125pz (adding a "z" for Zastava), earning the nickname "pezejac". While the Polish 125p was available with two different engine options, a 1300cc variant and a 1500cc variant, only the 1300cc was available in the 125pz. Production lasted until 1972, when the production of the new [[Zastava 101]] ramped up. Zastava then started importing complete Polish Fiat 125p models, and selling them as the Zastava 125p (without the "z"), garnering the nickname "pejac". The Zastava 125p was only available with the 1500cc engine. This went on until 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |last=edcom |date=2022-05-28 |title=Zastava 125 PZ (1970. - 1982.), slavni Pezejac, u osnovi Tristać zamaskiran u luksuzni Fiat 125 |url=https://autoportal.hr/vremeplov/zastava-125-pz-1970-1982-slavni-pezejac-u-osnovi-tristac-zamaskiran-u-luksuzni-fiat-125/ |access-date=2025-03-23 |website=Sve o automobilima |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Egypt===
[[File:Nasr 125.jpg|thumb|left|Nasr 125.]]
In Egypt production of the Polish 125p version went on under the name Nasr 125 until 1983.

===Argentina===
[[File:Fiat 125 Multicarga 1978 (12825287675).jpg|thumb|1978 Fiat 125 Multicarga]]
In Argentina the 125 was built from 1972 to 1982, initially by Fiat-Concord and later by [[Sevel Argentina]]. In addition to the 4-door sedan version, a station wagon (called "Familiar"), a pickup (called "Multicarga", a unique Argentine design) were built. There was also a coupe called 125 Sport with the same mechanics as the sedan, but based on the Fiat Coupé 1500 Vignale.

===Colombia===
A few copies were made of Italian 125 and was quickly replaced by Polish 125p better suited to the local market.

===Chile===
A car that was manufactured almost equal to the Fiat 125 Special restyling in march of 1970.

===Morocco===
SOMACA (Société Marocaine de Construction Automobile) assembled 125 in Casablanca.

==References==
{{Commons category|Fiat 125}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Fiat}}
{{Early European Fiat vehicles}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Fiat vehicles|125]]
[[Category:Sedans]]
[[Category:Station wagons]]
[[Category:Coupés]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:1970s cars]]
[[Category:1980s cars]]
[[Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1972]]
[[Category:Mid-size cars]]
[[Category:Cars of Argentina]]
[[Category:Cars of Chile]]
[[Category:Cars of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Cars of Morocco]]